Assessment for CIPD Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example

Module Assessment for CIPD Strategic Human Resource Management Workshop INTRODUCTION In the recent past, Saudi Arabia has begun to set high standards in all aspects to do with national healthcare systems. The King Faisal Medical City in the Southern Region is just one of the modern medical institutions that have earned the admiration of nations all over the world. In Saudi Arabia, every administrative district has its modern medical facilities that have some of the most recent technology in different medical fields. This reality has been successful in ensuring the eradication of diseases such as smallpox, and malaria; as well as adding years to the average life expectancy of ordinary Saudi Arabian citizens. The King Faisal Medical City is just one of the elements in the plan of the Saudi government to structure world-class healthcare institutions all through the kingdom. PESTEL Analysis The King Faisal Medical City has hospitals that specialize in neurology, cardiology, rehabilitation, oncology, and ophthalmology. These hospitals have a capacity of more than 1000 beds. The city also has other social institutions like mosques, retail outlets, apartments and a hotel within the King Faisal Medical City. The main aim for concentrating such modern healthcare facilities in one region was to try and facilitate for the de-institutionalization of healthcare by availing family and patient-centred healthcare delivery options to the public. The King Faisal Medical City, which is based in Saudi Arabia’s Southern Province, is a 262,836-square-meter medical city. There are different external factors that affect the manner in which operations within it take place. Political Review Even though it is a recognized fact that the Middle East is an area that tends to be politically unstable, the nation of Saudi Arabia does not usually have many incidents of political instability because of its authoritarian government. The nation also holds approximately 25% of the world’s total supply of oil reserves. This means that not only is the nation well able to structure and plan for modern medical facilities for its population, the existence of its reserves in oil also encourages other nations to push for stability in the nation even when many of its neighbours are embroiled in conflicts. Saudi Arabia’s political stability has encouraged health-related organizations in developed nations to invest in it. Economic Competitive Review Saudi Arabia’s economy, propelled forward by its oil reserves, has been instrumental in the transformation of all of the nation’s different sectors- among which is the healthcare sector. Today, Saudi Arabia’s economy is ranked as one of the most competitive ones in the international arena (AlFaris, Abdulgader, and Alkhenizan, 431). It pharmaceutical market has been witnessing double digit growth on an annual basis since half a decade ago (Al Juhani and Kishk, 167). This is quite an impressive and attractive platform for foreign health-based corporations which are looking to invest in a vibrant market. According to Almalki, Fitzgerald, and Clark, Saudi Arabia, along with other nations such as Russia, China, Brazil, and India, present the best markets for health based companies (Almalki, Fitzgerald, and Clark, 1481). Socio-Cultural Review The Saudi Arabian healthcare sector is mostly reliant on expatriate medical personnel to fill vacancies for medical practitioners such as nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. Being probably the most conservative culture in the world, Saudi Arabia’s nationals may not be able to take over many of these vacancies because of existing cultural prohibitions that bar them from engaging in some medical practices. The reality of foreign workers taking over the majority of jobs in Saudi Arabia’s medical sector means that the overall culture is constantly being exposed to different changes from foreigners. Technological review The majority of local Saudi firms do not have the technology required to create products such as are required to effect medical operations such as anti-cancer therapy. This means that the health sector is mostly controlled by international companies. Naturally, the best situation would be for Saudi companies to be more in control of health-related issues of their own citizens. However, the reality is that even if the investment were provided, there would be very slow diffusion of the newly-formed Saudi technology in a nation with as conservative a culture like Saudi Arabia’s. Legal and Ethical Factors There are many social and ethical factors that still beleaguer Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system in as far as different issues are concerned. Then there are also issues concerning corrupt practices between senior Saudi healthcare government officials and foreign companies that are based in other nations but which operate in Saudi Arabia. In many developed nations, the health-care based companies are compelled to follow definite rules that are demarcated by their governments. For instance, in the United States, health-care based companies such as pharmaceutical firms have to observe Health Care Compliance Guidelines (Almalki, Fitzgerald, and Clark, 786). This may not be a reality in nations such as Saudi Arabia; and so there is a greater chance that the Saudi Arabian nationals will be compelled to deal with less than optimal treatment methods. One of the greatest disagreements on all issues to do with ethical as well as legal concerns has to do with work and eave practices. SWOT Analysis and Core Competencies Core Competencies The King Faisal Medical City is composed of medical facilities that provide specialized medical services for more than 4 million people who are stationed in cities and communities in the Southern parts of the Kingdom such as Najran, Assir, Baha, and Jazan. Its many specialized centers are proficient in providing treatment in different aspects. Some of the better known institutions include the oncology centre, the ophthalmology centre, the centre for neuroscience, and the rehabilitative centre. SWOT Analysis INTERNAL Strengths: The King Faisal Medical City has been made possible due to the funds availed by the Saudi government. This is something that is not enjoyed by medical institutions in many nations to the extent that it is in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s funding of medical institutions also allows for many medical students in Saudi Arabia to be able to benefit from the institution of medical research centres as well as universities that are created by foreign companies. The Saudi Arabian government has also availed scholarships for Saudi medical students that then benefit multiplex institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City. Weaknesses In as far as weaknesses are concerned; there are a number of unhelpful issues that institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City have to contend with. For instance, there are few Saudi medical workers who are extremely qualified in the new technologies (Evetts, 27). This means that the Saudi healthcare system has to constantly invest in foreign workers who are always more qualified. There are also few truly collaborative efforts of research with established or recognized medical institutions which are based in the West. Saudi Arabia also lacks the necessary policies to effect the use of new medical technologies. EXTERNAL Opportunities The King Faisal Medical City has a chance of generating the new diagnostic modalities as well as research opportunities. There are also many chances at the prospect of generating research opportunities by drawing foreign investors. The King Faisal Medical City also has the opportunity to develop in such a way that it becomes the leading medical facility in terms of treatment and research in the Arab world. Threats Saudi Arabia lacks development in terms of subjects such as biomedical research as a result of political restrictions and regional security which discourages foreigners from investing in its institutions. There is also the challenge of mobilizing initial funding. There has also been inadequate commitment from health-care providers as well as the private sector in multiplex institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City. THE CIPD TOOL - HR STRATEGY IN EMPLOYEE RELATIONS CIPD stands for ‘Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’ (ASTON CENTRE FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, 3). It is basically a specialized association for professionals in human resource management and has its centre of operations in Wimbledon, England. Every organization, including medical facilities such as the King Faisal Medical City has employees and people in the human resource department who look after them. As workers are essentially an organization’s lifeblood, it is vital for them to have good relations among themselves as well as with the senior management. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is a certified body that is concerned with issues such as personnel, training and development. CIPD HR PROFESSION IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), workers in any organization are a core stakeholder group (Roper, Na-Ayudhya, and Prouska, 47). CIPD’s objective is to boost sustained organizational performance through re-structuring human relations capabilities, re-shaping the thinking of employees, and revising practices. In multiplex medical institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City, the labour force is diverse, large, and comprises of different occupations that are usually represented by influential professional associations (Rawlinson). Problems Faced by the Human Resource Division in the King Faisal Medical Facility The main problems faced by the King Faisal Medical Facility have to do with the lack of enough Saudi medical practitioners in positions of authority and influence in the facility. Saudi Arabia has a large youth population that is not really accustomed to functioning independently or even in positions of authority within its medical facilities. According to Al Juhan and Kishk Saudi Arabia is one of the few Middle Eastern nations that allows for medical students to study in Western based universities (Al Juhan and Kishk, 167). Moreover, the majority of these students, particularly the female population, then opt to practice in the West or even opt for medical institutions in other Middle Eastern nations due to the strictures enforced on them and their career options in their own nation. Some of the challenges faced by such institutions include the need to partner with more experienced Western based institutions for the purposes of improvement as well as future research. Strategies on how to Solve the Human Resources Issues Facing the King Faisal Medical Institution The Saudi Arabian government can deal with the shortage of Saudi medical practitioners by creating incentives that will draw back the medical graduates from Western based institutions back to their native country. This is particularly important where the female students are concerned. The Saudi Arabian government could also support the development of a culture that supports joint ventures between institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City and other more experienced Western based institutions. Such a plan would present the population trained in medical issues with tremendous opportunity in training openings. The Saudi Arabian government could also sponsor Saudi individuals who are interested to operate in different capacities in HR- affiliated organizations through establishments such as the recently initiated Human Resources Development Fund. In as far as performance appraisal is concerned, periodic appraisals ought to be established as the main driving force for the workers’ exemplary performances. Institutions such as the King Faisal medical city can enact practical appraisal measures, such as self-assessment criteria, that are discussed with the majority of stakeholders. There should also be constant feedback from experienced authorities who can assess the progress of the institution in implementing performance appraisal measures. CONCLUSION The relationship between healthcare facilities and human resources management is quite complex, especially when studied from a worldwide perspective. It is vital for human resources management personnel in organizations such as the King Faisal Medical Facility to implement health care reform in order to maintain the improvement of the multiplex institution. In developing countries such as Saudi Arabia, the existence of foreign health workers is a serious problem that affects the application of health related issues in ways that benefit the local population. Due to the fact that all health care services provided in institutions such as the King Faisal Medical City are ultimately used by the local population and not the tourists or international visitors, it is vital for services to be made which are tailored to suit the population. This calls for a strong understanding by medical personnel of issues concerning the human resources management. Works Cited Al Juhani, Abdullah, and Nahla Kishk. “Job satisfaction among primary health care physicians and nurses in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.” J Egypt Public Health Assoc 81.3(2006):165-180 AlFaris, Eiad, Abdelgalil Abdulgader, and Abdullah Alkhenizan. “Towards evidence-based medical education in Saudi medical schools.” Annals of Saudi Medicine 26.4 (2006): 429–432. Almalki, Mohammed, Gerry Fitzgerald, and Michelle Clark. “Quality of work life among primary health care nurses in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.” Human Resources for Health 10.3(2012): 1478-4491 Almalki, Mohammed, Gerry Fitzgerald, and Michelle Clark. “The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia: An overview.” East Mediterr Health J 7.1 (2011):784-793. ASTON CENTRE FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. Strategic human resource management: building research-based practice. London: CIPD, 2008. Evetts, Julia. “The construction of professionalism in new and existing occupational contexts: promoting and facilitating occupational change.” International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 23.4 (2003): 22-35 Rawlinson, Kevin. “Hospital staff bullied into bad behavior, survey finds.” The Guardian, Web. 9 September 2013 http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/09/hospital-staff-bullied-patient-care-survey Roper, Ian, Uracha Chatrakul Na-Ayudhya, and Rea Prouska. Critical Issues in Human Resource Management. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2010. Read More